Since OCD is still unknown in many aspects, studying the expression people with OCD exude. Mood disorders associated with OCD is the major key to studying the biological effects of obsessive- compulsive disorder. Studying different people in different cultures also helps to better understand OCD in the specific culture. For example, someone battling unseen tormentors would appear crazy in America, but normal in a society where spirits are believed to be real and powerful.
By combining psychology and anthropology, a scientist can search for a universal biological cause that can create various behaviors and their cures. Before that can be done, a true understanding of a person’s state of mind and complete a cultural case study must be done, in order to fully understand a person’s view of OCD in different cultures.
There are more than three- million American’s diagnosed with OCD, and most of the time, the rituals of these victims are seen as a way to ward some danger off. OCD are impulses that trigger obsessions, which make doing everyday activities difficult. Not every person diagnosed with OCD has the same obsession patterns, especially when it comes to different cultures. In the United States and Europe, the two main obsessions are cleanliness and fear of committing a sexual act. In Islamic countries, the focus of many obsessions is on the correct observance of religious rituals.
In Bali, where Gede is from, there are over three- million people, which have been infused with the cultures of Malay, China, India, and Indonesia. They study Hinduism, combined with elements of Buddhism and witchcraft. With all of these different elements, there are only 10 psychiatrists and one psychologist on this island. This can be difficult to help and treat OCD victims.
Lemelson also interviewed other Balinese who suffered from OCD. They all had the same types of obsession that Gede has. The common denominator is collecting as much information about something or someone as possible. To a Western psychologist, this may seem delusional. Cleanliness, which is one of the strongest obsessions in the US and Europe, is not to Balinese. Balinese are more concerned with gathering information on people and objects of symbolic importance. This makes perfect sense to Lemelson. If there is someone new in town, you don’t want to offend him. In order not to offend him, in the mind of a Balinese, learn everything about him.
Lemelson believes that even though Balinese are very friendly and out going people, that there is a dark side to this culture. Based on Margaret Mead, also an anthropologist, she called the Balinese culture a culture based on fear of inadvertent insult and unspoken offence. From this article and his interactions with OCD victims in Bali, Lemelson thinks that the danger from social interactions, even very simple ones, drives the behaviors of these Balinese with OCD.
After reading this article, I now realize how in-depth obsessive- compulsive disorder really is. I know people who suffer from this disease, and knew nothing about it. I now realize that there are many varying obsessions related to one disease. This one disease can also invoke other diseases, which can cause different dimensions of OCD. I never realized how it could affect someone in a small way either, whether you are from the United States or from Bali. Everyone is affected, even though only one person was clinically diagnosed with it. After reading Lemelson's article, I have a new found appreciation for people who study OCD.
Reference:
Lemelson, Robert and Winters, Jeffrey. “Strange Maladies.” Psychology Today Online. November/ December 2001. . 10 November 2003.
